Crowder taking over for Thomas

ANTONIO GONZALEZThe Associated Press

Published Wednesday, August 27, 2008

DAVIE -- Channing Crowder has never been shy in the spotlight.

Take for instance, Crowder saying his Miami Dolphins "must not have a lot of talent" if they can't put a player's picture on their billboards. Or when the linebacker admitted before a game in London that he couldn't find the city on a map, adding he didn't know they spoke English in England. Then there was the time the former Florida Gator said running back Ronnie Brown couldn't read because he went to Auburn.

No matter the occasion, the always honest and animated Crowder has never been short on jokes. But even he can admit there's nothing funny about his latest task: replacing his mentor, Zach Thomas.

"That's something serious," Crowder said. "That's a lot of responsibility and it's hard to joke about that. Although maybe me being Zach's replacement is kind of funny, huh?"

With Thomas traded to the Dallas Cowboys in the offseason, Crowder realizes it's time he plays up to his potential. So he talks to the only source he could think of to replace the seven-time Pro Bowler a few times a week -- Thomas himself.

"He's given me all kinds of tips," Crowder said. "But if he ever asks me for any help, I ain't telling him (nothing)."

Crowder showed just how good he can be during a 24-0 preseason win over Kansas City on Saturday night. He had five first-half tackles, including a sack and a forced fumble.

Crowder even offered an odd celebration after knocking the ball loose from Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle. He hopped to his feet, crouched low and made a digging motion, which he said was trying to mimic starting an old car. Crowder named the move "The Flywheel," and hopes to be showing it some more.

"It's like those old cars back in the day that had to be cranked back up," he said. "We got a new defense, and we're still learning it. When you first start cranking the wheel, it's hard. But when you get the momentum going, and you get oil moving, it starts going much smoother."

Crowder has never been shy in the spotlight.

While at the University of Florida, he wrestled alligators and wild boars on the outstretches of rural Gainesville "for fun." He wears his dreadlocks long and his jersey high and tight, showing off muscles some heavyweight fighters couldn't match.

But Crowder is known best for his free-flying rhetoric. He's a rare piece in Miami with the new, tightlipped Bill Parcells-led regime. There's rarely a question he won't answer honestly or leave his audience laughing.

"He loves to talk. He never gets tired of hearing himself talk," defensive end Vonnie Holliday said. "Regardless of how much we get tired of hearing him talk, he never gets tired of talking. He's pretty much always the same. He is crazy."

Even Crowder realizes he's an odd locker room commodity.

"On my locker, my name is in paper. It's not even a real plaque so they can get rid of that thing real fast if I talk too much," Crowder joked.

Crowder, who has a history of knee injuries, has averaged more than 90 tackles in his first three seasons and is in the final year of his rookie contract. The 24-year-old has started more games for Miami (37) than any defensive player other than the 32-year-old Holliday.

The Dolphins are hoping Crowder's experience playing alongside Thomas can lead the young Miami defense.

"He's played in a lot of games. He understands what the coaches expect from him," inside linebacker Akin Ayodele said. "We can look at him and say, 'You're our mike, you're our leader, let's go, what you got?' He speaks out, but he also makes the plays to back it up."